SECRETARY OF STATE Debra Bowen finally issued her decision on the use of electronic voting systems in next year’s election. Several of the systems her office studied will be allowed but only if they include better security equipment.

Fortunately, Contra Costa County had the foresight to use ES&S, a voting system that has a paper trail and was not included in Bowen’s decision.

Alameda County uses Sequoia, one of the systems the secretary of state examined, but like Contra Costa uses paper ballots in 99 percent of its votes.

Along with Sequoia, Bowen examined Diebold and Hart Intercivic voting systems. The Hart machines were not decertified but will be required to have added security restrictions.

Bowen is concerned that the voting machines are vulnerable to hacking. However, she stopped short of banning them for the next election in February. Some of the machines will be decertified, but can be recertified once they add some security features.

Steve Weir, Contra Costa County clerk-recorder, had some legitimate criticisms about how the voting machines were tested. He pointed out that examiners had unfettered access and computer codes, which potential hackers would not have.

Weir also was rightly upset that registrars were not included in Bowen’s review of the voting systems.

Bowen said she examined the voting machines to assure voters that their votes would be accurately counted. With the proper upgrades to some of the systems, Californians should have confidence in the integrity of future elections.